Airship.



' a platform or the Shel WILLAM C. ZMMERMAN, 0F NEW YORK, N. Y,

AIRSHIP.

Specification of Batters Patent. Application led February 19 1912.

Patented Jan. 14, 1913. Serial No. 678,641.

Tool! whom t may 'concern Be it known that I, WrLLIAM C. ZIMMER- MAN, a citizen of the United States, and resident of the city of New York, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful lmprovements in Airships, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to air ships, particularly to the heavier-than-air type, and its principal object is to provide an improved and eiiicient air Ship which will be safe, reliable, simple of operation, and readily controlled by the operator.

Another object is to provide improved means for raising and maintaining air ships aloft.

In carryin out my invention, I provide 2tiperators and passenshell closed at both platform; said shell 1platform and its a-Xis nor- A rotatable shaft along said shellaxis carries blades and is driven by a motor or en'ne whereby s ,aid blades are revolved at a igh speed.` The revolving of said blades causes the air in said shell to yrate about its axis, which creates centri ugal pressure against the walls of said shell. Openings at the underside of said l opposite said blades admit and discharge air; and since the air finds exit at the under side of the shell, pressure is diminished thereat and the centrifugal pressure against the upper side of the shell causes it to rise, thereb raising and maintaining the air ship alo t. Suit- 'a le Vmeans for propelling and steering the air ship are provide Other objects and advantages will hereinafter appear.

n the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a. sectional elevation of the air ship, taken lon itudinally, and shows the mechanismin full.y Fig. 2 isv a transverse section of the air ship taken on the line in Fi 1. Fig. 3 1s an elevation of the stern end o? the air shi A pllzitform l for carrying the operators, passengers, machinery, etc., is suitably constructed of light and strong material and uprights 2 are fixed. thereupon which sup- 'port a large cylindrlcal 'shell 3, the axis of gers, and a cylindric ends is fixed to said being over the mally horizonte said centrifugal -said openings, and said blades which is horizontally disposed; said u rights serving as posts for said shell when the air ship is on the ground and as suspenders for said platform when the ship is aloft, as will be seen. a frame-work 4 sheathed with canvas 5 or other suitable material.

The trame-Work as shown here comprises rings 6 fixed to supports 2, rods 7 'oining said rings, and radial braces 8; al being braced and fastened properly with the uprights 2 and platform 1, and constituting a light and strong structure. The canvas 5 constituting the walls of said shell is mounte upon said rings 6 and rods 7, and the shell is closed at both ends 9 and l0.

A drive shaft 11 extending along the axis of shell 3 is l2 fixed in rings 13, to which rings said braces 8 are joined. Sets of vanes or blades 14 are iixed rigidly to shaft l1, and engines or motors 15 upon plat-form 1 being connected to said shaft b means of chains 16, and sprocket-wheels 1 18, drive the shaft and revolve said blades openings 19 are provided at the under side of the shell opposite each set of blades.

The rapid revolving of `blades 14C causes the air in shell 3 to gyrate rapidly about its axis, which creates a centrifugal ressure against the walls 5 of the shell. Tie pressures against-,the sides of the shell are opposite and equal and produce noeect. The

olpeningslQ on the under side admit and dis'- arge air as the blades v14 pass by them, new air necessarily entering to take the place of t-he discharged air by creating a counter incoming current at one side of passing by sai o enings aiding the new air to be drawn 1n, and since the air nds an exit at the underside of the shell, ,it results in a diminution of the centrifugal pressure thereat, whereby t e greater upward centrifu al pressure against the 11p er side of wall causes the shell to rise andJ the entire structure to'be lifted therewith and the air ship maintained aloft. i

Propeller blades 20 fixed to shaft 1l, at the stern end 10 of shell 3,l are revolved yby said shaft and propel the air ship. An ordinary rudder 21 is hinged tovframe-work 4 at Q2, '23, at the stern end l0 of the shell,

Said shell consists of 14 at a high speed. Air

and is connecled .'riih a steering Wheel e shell7 by ineens oi a rock-shaft sproclrewheels QG, 2l, and a chain 28 eonneoiing said sprocket-Wheels, whereby sha-fi Z5 may be roclred and the rudder swung by the operav lor manipulatingsaid wheel7 and he ship thus sie/ered ai his Will.

'lhe bonT end 9 olf the shell 3 is conically formed, as shown ai 9a, lo cut Jehe air and overcome iis resistance When the air ship is being propelled. lreierahly, an additional propeller 29 is lined on shaft ll ivilhin said conical end, and an opening` BG provided at lhe under side of said end7 which aids in Jdie propulsion of die air ship and forces air in 4the cylindrical portion oi Vthe shell, 7Wlnereby the gyraling air is given additional pressure. The stern end l0 of libe shell may be funnel-shaped and tapering Wilhin the shell 3? as shown at 16a, and ilie propeller 2O disposed Wiihin said funnelsliaped end to inalre the sruclure cornpac': andV "so 'iorcedhe air directly against the rudder Ql lor improved steering. il rail 3l is provided around Jdie plar'liorni 'for eon renience ol 'l'lie riders.

florinally Athe platform 1 rests on 'lne `aground and Wheels may .be proyided lior said plaiiforrn. por moving the air u und. lllhen ii, is desired to rise, *the enloes are s'laried running", and9 he blades .owing aiiained 'the proper speed the air ,ship will rise and loe mainlained alol'bab a certain elevation, depending npon checspeed of said blades and upon he load carried on plallorrn l. To rise high-er9 die engines l5 are rnn asier to revolve blades 'id ai, a .iigher speed., and lo descend said engines slowed down.

Gluleliing mechanism may be provided for siopping 'the propellers when -he air aloitn '"ariations may be resorred "no Within Athe scope ol the invention.

Having lhus described :my invention, ll claim:

l. ln an air shinl ineens for raisingv and niainiaininp; llhe ship in the air including; `Idie combinar-ion of a c lindrical shell closed a'r iis ends, reyoluble blades therein formed ro be adaprable ro cause gyraiion o2 the air about the axis oli said shell9 "the gyrating air causing centrifugal pressure against the l" said shell and ille underside olf' Walls or said shell having; openings adapted loo admit and discharge air; said discharge oi' air reducing said centrifugal pressure on said underside whereby the cen'triingal pressure upon 'die upper side of said shell raises and maintains die ship in fthe air.

2. ln an air ship ineans for raising; and maintaining lle ship in Ldie air inolndingr lne cornhinalion of a cylindrical shell elosed ai; irs ends, means adap e to canse ,ery/rw .i n... :-V i m a: L non or he an' @herein annie le anis o! ship alongn the said gyraling air causing cenrifugal pressure against the Walls of said shell,

the underside of said shell havingopenings i'or Jdie admission and discharge of air; said discharge of air reducing said centrifugal pressure on said underside whereby the oentriiugal pressure upon the upper side of said shell raises and niainl-ains 'the ship in the ain 3. ln an air ship, ineans for raising1 and maintaining the ship in the air including the combination of a cylindrical shell closed al.: its ends, a rotatable sha-lit eidending along,F 'the axis thereof., sets oli blades on said shalt having Jrheir sides parallel to irs axis adapt able ro cause gyration of the air in said shell, 'die gyraiing air Acausing centrifugal pressure against the Walls of the shell, and Jehe underside oi@ said shell having an open ing opposite each oi said sets of blades adapted to admit and discharge air; said discharge ol air reducing said centrifugal pressure on said underside whereby the cen-- pressure upon the opper side oli said shell ises and niainlains i ie ship in lthe air.

ti'n an shi@ 'she combination o lindrical shell closed ai; ills endsE a rotatable slia'd ei lending alonpg the airis s of blades on said sha i haring iaheir sioes parallel 'izo its anis adaptable "co cause gyra tion in said shell7 "ehe .une air causing` ceniriliuo'al 'pressure ,i 'Walls said shell, `rhe undersiee or@ shell having an opening opposiiie eaoh of said seis ol blades adap'ed 'to admit and dis charge said discharge of air reducingr said centriiuggal pressure on said `ander side whereby rthe ceniri'iuaal pressure upon rhe upper side oi said shell raises and maintains "fhe ship in 'die air.y a platform 'for riders depending1 -rein said shell. an engine driving sha'ii the scern end olZ said shell rapen inpwilliin said shell.. and propeller blades mounted upon said sha'i Wishin said sif-ern end.

ln an air ship lhe combinalion of a. cylindrical shell` a rola'lal'ile shaiii merendine* alone 'the anis oi' said shell, sels oiin blades mounted on said Shard: and revolved l'hereby lo cause lhe air in said shell io pyrae said ,eyralrino' air pressinan centriilupgally against ihe Walls olE said shell. the under side olE said shell haring: an opening opposile each sei of blades 'for the admission and discharge of air. said discharge oli air reducinon said cenlrilua'al pressure on said under side whereby ille centri'ldmal pressure upon the upper eide of said shell raises and maintains the ship in zhe airn a 'nlali'i'omn lor riders depending 'roni said shell an engine or engines driving said shall. propellino ineens 'igor lhe air shiiny the end oiE said shell beine7 conical to oyercoiro air resislaiiee pro prog eller l shaft witihn said conical end of the shell to Signed at the city of New York, in the aid propulsion of the air ship and to incounty of New York, and State of New crease said pressure in the cylindrical por- York, this 17th day of February, A. D. 1912.

tion of said shell, and said conical end hav- WILLIAM'C. ZIMMERMAN. ing an opening at its under side below Sald Witnesses:

propeller blades to admit and discharge air M. LEVY,

thereat. B. ROMAN.

Copies of this patent may beobtalnedl for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patcnts.

Washington, D. 0. 

